Array.prototype.reverse() flips the order of elements in place — first becomes last, last becomes first. It returns the same array reference. Need the original order kept? Copy first, or use toReversed().
array.reverse()
[1, 2, 3].reverse() → [3, 2, 1]
mutates the array ✓
returns same array ✓
keep original? → copy first, then reverse
immutable alt → toReversed() (ES2023)Call array.reverse. Start with this line.
array.reverse()| Call | What it does |
|---|---|
array.reverse() | Primary signature. |
array.reverse(...) | Call with the arguments your case needs. |
Built into JavaScript. Call reverse(...) on an array instance — no import required.
array.reverse()| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Array | Required. Target whose order will flip |
| Return Value | Description |
|---|---|
| * | Same array reference, now reversed |
Call reverse() on a number array and log the mutated result.
const numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
numbers.reverse();
console.log(numbers);
// [5, 4, 3, 2, 1]0 … 4.1↔5, 2↔4; 3 stays.numbers now holds [5, 4, 3, 2, 1] — length is unchanged.Copy with slice(), then reverse the copy so the source stays safe.
const original = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
const reversed = original.slice().reverse();
console.log("original:", original);
// [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
console.log("reversed:", reversed);
// [5, 4, 3, 2, 1]slice() returns a new array with the same values.reverse() mutates that new array, not original.[1, 2, 3, 4, 5]; copy is flipped.[...original].reverse() does the same job with spread.Strings are not arrays — split, reverse, then join for simple text.
const greeting = "Hello";
const reversed = greeting.split("").reverse().join("");
console.log(reversed);
// "olleH"split("") → ["H","e","l","l","o"].["o","l","l","e","H"].join("") rebuilds the string "olleH".Array.prototype.reverse() has been part of JavaScript since ES3 / JavaScript 1.2 — long before modern array helpers.
Supported in every major browser (including Internet Explorer) and all Node.js versions. No polyfill required.
Bottom line: Safe everywhere. For an immutable reverse in modern engines, prefer toReversed() (ES2023) when you cannot mutate the source.
Learn how to remove the first element from an array and get its value.
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